Day Care Isn't A Big Issue For Deidre Hall

NEW YORK — While some actress-mothers don't believe in transporting their children to the job site, Deidre Hall, who plays Marlena Brady on "Days of Our Lives," certainly isn't one of them. She regulary brings her infant son, David Atticus, into the "Days of Our Lives" studio with her so she can spend all of her free time with him. In fact, shortly after his birth, Hall moved to a bigger dressing room to accommodate the tyke.

"David's wonderful," says Hall of her young son. "I love having him with me during the day. He's right here, chewing the top of his bottle."

Hall and her husband, NBC executive Steve Sohmer, seem to be quite in sync about every aspect of parenthood. It began, in fact, when they were deciding what to name their first child. Without much ado, they collaborated on David Atticus, a name that holds special meaning for both of them, but for different reasons.

"Steve and I came by the name David because, on my part, I had a great friendship with Chad Allen, who played my son on 'Our House,' " says Hall. (Hall co-starred in the nightime series during her years away from "Days of Our Lives"). "I just adored him beyond description, and he played the character of David on the show.

"On Steve's part, his great-grandfather was named David," continues Hall. "It's such a wonderful name, but it's odd: You don't hear too many boys being named David today."

As for David's middle name, Hall and Sohmer, who are both in the entertainment industry, found it--appropriately enough--at the movies. "Atticus comes from 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' " she notes, referring to the character for which Gregory Peck won a best actor Oscar in 1963.

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Robyn Griggs was wonderful as Stephanie Hesser on "One Life to Live," the role that marked her entrance into daytime television in 1991 and lasted for a year. Now, Griggs is creating the role of Joy on "Another World." Athough not much had been revealed about the character, as she only arrived in Bay City last month, she is described as "charming, feisty and a potential troublemaker."

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"The Bold and the Beautiful" recently announced that supervising producer Bradley Bell has been named head writer of the soap. Bell was part of the team that created the soap in 1987 and served as associate producer and a member of the writing staff from 1987 to 1991, when he was named supervising producer. Bell assumes the head writer position from his father, William J. Bell Sr.